𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀: 𝟳-𝗙𝗼𝗼𝘁, 𝟮𝟱𝟬-𝗣𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗡𝗼. 𝟱 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗧𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗩𝗼𝗹𝘀, 𝗥𝗲𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗚𝗲𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗮, 𝗚𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 & 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲

𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀: 𝟳-𝗙𝗼𝗼𝘁, 𝟮𝟱𝟬-𝗣𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗡𝗼. 𝟱 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗧𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗩𝗼𝗹𝘀, 𝗥𝗲𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗚𝗲𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗮, 𝗚𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 & 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲

 

In a major recruiting victory for the Tennessee Volunteers, 7-foot, 250-pound center Malik Anderson, the No. 5-ranked high school basketball player in the nation, has officially committed to play in Knoxville. Anderson’s announcement, made during a nationally broadcast press conference at his high school in Charlotte, North Carolina, marks a massive win for head coach Rick Barnes and the Tennessee basketball program.

 

The elite big man chose the Vols over a stacked list of finalists that included Georgia, Florida, Duke, and Kansas — all blue-bloods or rising SEC forces hoping to land the dominant post presence. Known for his intimidating shot-blocking, elite rebounding, and polished low-post game, Anderson is widely regarded as one of the most college-ready prospects in the 2025 class.

 

“Tennessee just felt right — from the coaching staff, to the campus, to the way they treat their players like family,” Anderson said as he pulled a Vols cap out of a duffel bag and put it on, sending the crowd into a frenzy. “Coach Barnes has a plan for me, and I believe in what they’re building in Knoxville.”

 

Anderson’s decision is more than just a big get — it’s a major statement. After back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances and consistently top-tier SEC finishes, Tennessee is showing they can not only compete but win at the highest level of recruiting. His commitment catapults Tennessee’s 2025 class into the national top 5 and adds a physically imposing force to the roster for years to come.

 

Sources close to Anderson said the decision came down to Tennessee and Florida in the final days, with Georgia making a strong push late thanks to a lucrative NIL package. However, the player’s family emphasized Tennessee’s player development track record, academic support, and the culture within the program as decisive factors.

 

Coach Barnes, known for developing NBA-level talent like Kevin Durant, Grant Williams, and Admiral Schofield, now has a centerpiece for the future. Anderson is projected to be a one-and-done candidate, but has expressed interest in winning a national title before heading to the league.

 

National analysts reacted swiftly, with ESPN’s Jeff Borzello calling the commitment “a game-changer for the SEC”, and 247Sports ranking Anderson as one of the “safest NBA bets” in the class. Tennessee fans wasted no time celebrating, flooding social media with orange hearts, emojis, and the now-viral hashtag #MalikToRockyTop.

 

Anderson is expected to visit campus officially in the fall and may enroll early in the spring to begin training with the team. His arrival will give Tennessee an immediate inside presence and provide a serious boost to the program’s March Madness hopes in 2026.

 

With one of the most dominant big men in America now heading to Knoxville, Tennessee has officially entered the conversation as a new powerhouse in college hoops — and they’re just

getting started.